Supermoon" Tonight: Biggest Full Moon in 18 Years

[JanDutchy]

Source: National Geographic News

Supermoon will be bigger and brighter than regular full moon, expert says
It may not be faster than a speeding bullet, but tonight the moon will make its closest approach to Earth in 18 years—making the so-called supermoon the biggest full moon in years.

And despite Internet rumors, the impending phenomenon had no influence on the March 11 Japan earthquake and tsunami (see pictures).

The monthly full moon always looks like a big disk, but because its orbit is egg-shaped, there are times when the moon is at perigee—its shortest distance from Earth in the roughly monthlong lunar cycle—or at apogee, its farthest distance from Earth.

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Read more: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/03/110319-supermoon-full-moon-earth-science-space-biggest-closest-brightest/

[Warpy]

1. (sigh) Moonrise here is on the other side of the Rockies

I'm afraid big full moons near the horizon are just not in our cards.

I have noticed how bright the sucker's been for the last few nights, though.

[BOG PERSON]

2. fuck the moon!

fuck it!

[JI7]

4. how about the sun

[Gregorian]

8. Now there's some serious honesty.

Let it all out. You'll feel better.

[Marblehead]

3. noticeably

larger last night, cloudy tonight

[Purveyor]

5. So that is why the 'better half' is so frisky today... ;) eom

[JanDutchy]

12. You mean the "croissant" ? ;)

[Bardley]

6. perfect time to attack it

if not now, when?

[freshwest]

31. We need the cheese. It's either the Moon or Canada. Take your pick.

[Bardley]

33. why not both? Canada may be even closer nt

[freshwest]

35. Canada has a much nicer landscape and an infinitely better climate. I am sooo offtopic here. Sorry.

[roamer65]

7. I'll be out observing it.

The craters should be a bit bigger in the telescope.

Reports say it will seem about 14% bigger.

[wickerwoman]

9. Here's what it looked like in New Zealand this morning:

[grahamhgreen]

11. My God! It's upside down!!!

[wickerwoman]

15. Turning the wrong direction too!

:P

[KurtNYC]

16. LOL

[micraphone]

27. Cool! Are you in Auckland?

It was VERY bright in Wellington around midnight (picking up my daughter from a BBQ!).

Edit: sp

[zappaman]

10. Careful

It just means the aliens with their disguised ship that looks like a moon are coming in close.
Could be the start of something big, but I don't want to make anyone panic.

[Wednesdays]

13. Too cloudy here.

:cry:

[shanti]

22. here too!

i so wanted to see this :(

[NorthCarolina]

23. Too cloudy in Charlotte too

:cry:

[pinniped]

14. The moon looked giant sized early this morning at 5:00am.

It must be a double feature.

[DFW]

17. It was brighter than I've ever seen it here tonight

The Russians have a folk song, "Светит месяц," sort of "brightly shines the moon."

It was very appropriate tonight. Nice birthday present from Mother Nature!
Since she tried to kill me off 7 years ago, I figured she owed me one.

[MBS]

18. It sure does seem extra big and bright tonight.. . n/t

[MBS]

19. self-delete (dupe)

[NinetySix]

20. OH NO!!

Yeah, an oldie, but a goodie!

[Roland99]

21. Too bad it's not made out of barbecue spare ribs....

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/982961/

[Blandocyte]

24. Don't touch it!

It's very close, but don't touch it!

[FailureToCommunicate]

25. Thank you Jan for this. We joined by chance a group gathered 'round telescopes

who obviously had been paying attention to such things, and soon a much larger crowd was milling about, peering into the night sky here in New England. It is indeed the biggest and brightest I've seen the moon since I was a kid.

Thanks Jan. Love your Dom Tower!

[Botany]

26. Only one song for tonight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeZm7KQJT1o

[marasinghe]

39. most excellent choice. (n/t)

[benld74]

28. No moon in Saint Lou, plenty of rain,,,,,,,,

[GliderGuider]

29. We had a spectacular view here in Ottawa.

I watched the oblate orange moon climb into a cloudless, crystalline, cerulean sky - in the company of my long-lost, now ecstatically re-united soul-mate (one week short of the first anniversary of our reunion after 27 years of separation). We were astronomically happy :-) It doesn't get much more romantic than that.

[roody]

30. Congrats GG. No moon in NoCal.; lots of rain.

[Boudica the Lyoness]

32. I went for a walk in the moonlight

across the meadow to see one of our horses. It was almost just like day. I love walking in the moonlight. We have no light pollution, so it's pretty awesome.

[Omaha Steve]

34. Couldn't see it here

Clouds blocked it out.

[daleo]

36. I looked at it through a 5 inch telescope

It was very bright.

[marasinghe]

37. i think this kind of goes with the picture ....

Mina, with: "Tintarella di Luna".
(dating myself, i know)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92Y-zid0abA

[Mojorabbit]

38. It was beautiful

I went shrimping and did very well!

[Doctor_J]

40. It was spectacular. I live on a lake and about 5:30 AM

i got the moon itself along with the reflection. Rainy tonight though.

[sakabatou]

41. I'll check, but I'm unsure if the cloud cover will disperse.